Things That Make It Warm

chapter 2

About 20 minutes later, Zoro heard footsteps climbing the ladder to the crow's nest. He was laid on his back, arms behind his head and legs stretched out along the bench.

He looked over as Sanji poked his head inside. He climbed into the room holding a steaming mug and what looks like a little, thin pillow.

"I got this heat pad from Nami. Don't worry, I didn't mention your problem. She told me to just heat it on the stove and it would retain heat for a while." Sanji explained the 'little pillow' and motioned for Zoro to sit up. He placed the pad down and put the mug into his hands. "That's chamomile tea. Chopper said it could help the cramps. He gave me a painkiller to dissolve in there, too."

Zoro nodded and downed the tea all at once, receiving an unimpressed look from Sanji. "Thanks, cook. This is a lot." Zoro averts his gaze, giving the now empty mug back to the cook.

"Don't mention it, marimo," Sanji squinted at him. "Literally. Now lay down"

Confused but not unwilling, Zoro eased back down at the wave of Sanji's hand, feeling the heat from the pad. He melted into it, appreciating the comfort it offered his aching spine.

Sanji chuckled at the sated look on Zoro's face. The swordsman tensed when he felt hands prod his haramaki. "What are you doing, cook?"

"Chopper said massaging your stomach could relax your muscles and ease your pain. If you don't want it though, I can stop." Sanji looked at him expectantly. Zoro was about to protest, but the pressure of Sanji's hands felt good.

"...go ahead."

Sanji flashed a grin at him before focusing on the task at hand. He pressed Zoro's belly over the haramaki before he slid it down and got to work. Sanji didn't know much about massages, but he often had to knead dough of different kinds throughout his career as a chef. Either way, it seemed he was doing a fine job. Zoro had a soft smile on his face, eyes closed and body completely pliant under Sanji's fingers. After a few minutes, Sanji moved to sit on the bench, moving Zoro's head into his lap. Sanji had never seen the moss look so happy. After a few minutes of Sanji absent-mindedly playing with Zoro's hair, he heard soft snores coming from below him. Sanji sighed contentedly and closed his eyes.

-----

Sanji awoke to the sun in his eyes. He groaned and tried to throw an arm over his face, but found that he couldn't. Opening his eyes, he looked down and almost couldn't believe what he was seeing. Zoro had his arms wrapped around his torso, trapping one of his arms. The other of Sanji's hands was threaded in the swordsman's hair. His face was squished into Sanji's chest, which fluttered at the sight of their legs tangled together. Sanji smiled at the sight of their position.

He rubbed his fingers into Zoro's scalp. "Get off me Marimo. You're heavy and I need to prepare breakfast."

Zoro huffed and opened his eye, turning his head to look at Sanji blearily. He squeezed the blonde's abdomen tighter for a second before letting go and freeing Sanji.

Sanji stood and watched as Zoro scratched at his stomach before fixing his haramaki and yawning. The cook grabbed the tea cup from last night and turned to leave when Zoro caught his wrist. Sanji had little reaction time as the marimo leaned in, pressing their noses together in a gesture that Sanji refuses to recognize as a nuzzle, and left as quickly as he came. Sanji's face blazes red, unseen by the swordsman who has already laid back down on the bench to finish sleeping.

"Thanks for last night, cook. If you need help later, you know where to find me."

Sanji lets out an exasperated sigh and continues on with his morning, hoping to get more chances to enjoy Zoro's companionship without fighting every 5 minutes.